#occupylondon go all Pussy Riot in St Paul’s Cathedral
So OccupyLondon Occupy London Stock Exchange Occupy St Paul’s Cathedral have struck another mighty blow against capitalism.
Four female Occupy activists chained themselves to the cathedral pulpit during Evensong.
This brave move came during a service which:
…planned to incorporate prayers by Occupy Faith and a sermon which spoke clearly of the need for partnership between Occupy, St Paul’s and others in addressing the need for financial and political change which Occupy highlighted.
So this happened during a Service incorporating the activists, sympathetic to their cause, and they were invited guests.
The Dean of St Paul’s, The Very Reverend Dr David Ison had this to say:
“After working constructively together with Occupy Faith on this act of worship, we regret the abuse of the Cathedral’s hospitality and its daily worship. We also disagree with the way in which some protesters are continuing to pursue the agenda of conflict with St Paul’s, rather than consulting with us about how together we might better achieve the reforms which many people including Occupy are looking for.”
The following is the text read out by one of the ‘Occupiers’ during the service:
We do not wish to distress you Only to appeal to you.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
We stand here as Occupiers, as women, Queers, disabled, grandmas, young, old, as women of all faiths and none in solidarity with all other groups who are marginalised by economic injustice.
Even when times are good women, along with our children, are usually those who suffer the most. In times of economic crisis our inequality is amplified but we refuse to be victims.
We will not be silent.
One year ago tomorrow, Occupy arrived on your doorstep and pitched our tents in the tradition of St Paul.
We offered you an opportunity to live out our shared truth: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.
In the fight for economic justice Jesus threw the money changers out of the temple, but you invited them in
And instead evicted us.
Your collusion with the City of London Corporation led to our violent eviction on your doorstep.
You testified against us which acted to uphold injustice and inequality that is growing by the day.
St Paul’s Cathedral you must stand up and be counted at this great trial of history.
But you have denied us twice already.
Once when you closed your doors on us and watched on as praying Christians were dragged from the steps of St Paul’s and twice when you failed to act when we were gone.
Today we offer you a third chance. The resurrected Jesus spoke first to a woman.
He said, go to my brothers and tell them the truth. We come to you and we say, The truth is an urgent call for radical action in the Way of Christ.
There is no time left to procrastinate
This is what democracy looks like
Come and join us.
I was a little disappointed to note Christianity Uncut were also involved, especially given that I had recently secretly grown sympathetic towards them:
A group of Christians have this afternoon entered St Paul’s Cathedral and hung a banner down the front of the building. They are calling on the Church as a whole to resist government cuts and follow Jesus’ example of siding with the poor.
Their action follows the refusal of cathedral authorities to meet with Christians who were dragged from the steps of St Paul’s in February as they knelt in prayer during the eviction of the Occupy camp. Tomorrow (15 October) marks the first anniversary of Occupy London Stock Exchange.
The group, Christianity Uncut, have nonviolently unfurled a banner declaring ‘Throw the Money Changers out of the Temple’. It depicts Jesus’ protest against usurers and religious hypocrites in the Jerusalem Temple.
As I’ve noted in the past regarding the UK ‘Occupy’ movement, it seems to me they would be more aptly named “OccupyCathedrals”.
Although we know what they stand against – corporate greed, banking systems, markets, capitalism – we never really know what they propose as alternatives.
I think the reason for this, is they don’t really have any answers.
Overall I believe this move will be viewed unfavourably as it amounts to little more than an ambush and abuse of hospitality. Again.
UPDATE: Sound blog post on this over at God and Politics.
Tags: Christian Life, Christianity, Politics
October 14th, 2012 at 7:59 pm
Stuart, This is one area that we will always disagree on. I have always blogged in support of Occupy. Collective action is gradually being phased out of our governance structures and it is the one thing that is badly needed to stand up for those being sidelined. It matters not that they don’t have answers. Even our politicians who went to the best universities have been accused of the same. Listen to what Occupy has to say instead.
October 14th, 2012 at 8:04 pm
On the whole, I would support the actions taken in and around the cathedral. However, I agree with you that the lack of specific alternatives is the biggest weakness of the Occupy movement. It’s interesting to compare this to the Chartist movement of the 1830s, even though a petition of 3 million signatures was summarily dismissed by Parliament at the time. If today’s groan of injustice could be enunciated in a similar set of proposals, then and only then would the movement have a realistic chance of effecting change.
October 14th, 2012 at 9:12 pm
A bunch of selfish lefties, bursting with entitlement. They need to do some time in prison.
October 15th, 2012 at 10:26 am
Far more dangerous – UK ‘Occupy’ the anomie space, the capturing and nullifying by the entitlement state of all sociopolitical associacions creating a massive political wilderness.
Millions of British people are being forced into a subcaste yet all is eerily quiet on the political front – the calm before the storm.
October 15th, 2012 at 11:16 pm
I think occupy want stricter regulations for banking institutions and higher taxes for the rich. For all cuts to be reversed, investment in infrastructure ie more borrowing and a plan for growth and full employment. In short a move toward socialism. Such a move then create s problems for market economics and wealth creation. Could you convince the working electorate that they should contribute more for those who have less. Would the rich take their money and invest elsewhere ? Social Justice may leave the country poorer (in money terms ) but would it be worth it if we built a more equal civilised society.
October 16th, 2012 at 2:43 pm
Occupy are merely a stealth group of marxists and their useful idiots wailing against economic freedom.